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- pronunciation:
- dih
beIt
- parts of speech:
- noun, verb
- features:
- Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
A debate is a discussion between two people or groups who disagree on an important subject
People at the town meeting got into a debate about the old library. Some people were for building a new one and some people were against it.- similar words:
- argument, disagreement, discussion, dispute
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| definition 2: |
A debate can be a kind of competition between two people or two teams who disagree on something. Each side has certain amounts of time to talk and say what they believe. When one side talks, the other side has to be quiet. A debate like this is done in front of an audience.
Both teams did very well in the debate. Both sides spoke well and gave a lot of facts to support their point of view. It must have been hard to decide the winner.- similar words:
- competition, contest
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| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
debates, debating, debated |
| definition 1: |
When people debate, they discuss the different sides of a subject or issue.
The town council members have been debating for over an hour, but they still haven't come to a decision.- similar words:
- deliberate, oppose
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| definition 2: |
When you debate something, you try to decide what you think about it. You think about what the good things are and what the bad things are, and you try to make a decision.
Luna's mom is debating whether to go back to school or not. She knows it will be difficult to keep her job and study at the same time, so it's a hard decision.- synonyms:
- consider, ponder
- similar words:
- reason
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| related words: |
argue, discuss, protest |
| derivation: |
debater (n.) |
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